Timbrh

This instrument was collected in the field by Percy Horace Gordon Powell-Cotton. The timbrh are relatively large lamellophones from Cameroon, in which the resonator is made either with a light wood, or with two or three hollowed out raffia palm stems (petioles) joined together with beeswax, and the lamellas are made of the hard outer skin of raffia (Raphia sp.). This example has a wooden box-resonator made of an hollowed hemispherical trunk covered with a top board that has two triangular and one rectangular soundholes. It has fourteen lamellas, of which some are enhanced with vibration needles attached with dark beeswax on the top. The lamellas also have lumps of the same dark beeswax underneath the touches, for fine tuning (some of the needles and lumps are currently missing). The pressure bars (double) and the bridge are also made of raffia, and are attached to the board with "rattan" (probably of same raffia palm plant). There is no backrest. There is a small strap of twine cord attached on the top.